Luke indicated that Jesus said that all of them had contributed their gifts out of their abundance (πάντες γὰρ οὗτοι ἐκ τοῦ περισσεύοντος αὐτοῖς ἔβαλον εἰς τὰ δῶρα). However, she had contributed out of her poverty (αὕτη δὲ ἐκ τοῦ ὑστερήματος αὐτῆς). She put in all that she had to live on (πάντα τὸν βίον ὃν εἶχεν ἔβαλεν). Thus, she would be destitute. Only Mark, chapter 12:44, had something similar, while Matthew did not mention this incident. Mark said that Jesus explained how this poor widow had given more than others, since it was not numerically correct. All of the other rich people had contributed out of their abundance or overflowing wealth (πάντες γὰρ ἐκ τοῦ περισσεύοντος αὐτοῖς ἔβαλον). However, she had contributed out of her poverty (αὕτη δὲ ἐκ τῆς ὑστερήσεως αὐτῆς). She put into the Temple treasury everything that she had to live on (πάντα ὅσα εἶχεν ἔβαλεν), her whole livelihood (ὅλον τὸν βίον αὐτῆς). This was a strange explanation. This widow became destitute by contributing to the Temple treasury. Was that a good idea? Someone should have advised her to keep her money. Was this a false sense of generosity? Was this part of the idea of giving up everything for Christ? Would you give up everything?

Luke indicated that Jesus saw a poor widow (εἶδεν δέ τινα χήραν πενιχρὰν) put in two small copper coins (βάλλουσαν ἐκεῖ λεπτὰ δύο). Only Mark, chapter 12:42, has something similar, since Matthew did not mention this incident. Mark indicated that Jesus said that this one poor widow came to the treasury (καὶ ἐλθοῦσα μία χήρα πτωχὴ). She put in two small copper coins (ἔβαλεν λεπτὰ δύο). A λεπτὰ “lepton” copper coin was the smallest Greek coin and often called a “mite”. Two of these “lepton” copper coins was worth a penny or a κοδράντης (ὅ ἐστιν κοδράντης). This κοδράντης “quadrans” was the smallest Roman copper coin. This was a very small amount of money that this poor widow put into the Temple treasury. Do you give pennies away?

Only Luke, chapter 21:4, has something similar, while Matthew did not mention this incident. Mark said that Jesus explained how this poor widow had given more than others, since it was not numerically correct. All of the other rich people had contributed out of their abundance or overflowing wealth (πάντες γὰρ ἐκ τοῦ περισσεύοντος αὐτοῖς ἔβαλον). However, she had contributed out of her poverty (αὕτη δὲ ἐκ τῆς ὑστερήσεως αὐτῆς). She put into the Temple treasury everything that she had to live on (πάντα ὅσα εἶχεν ἔβαλεν), her whole livelihood (ὅλον τὸν βίον αὐτῆς). Now she was destitute. This was a strange explanation. This widow became destitute by contributing to the Temple treasury. Was that a good idea? Was this a false sense of generosity?

Only Luke, chapter 21:3, has something similar, while Matthew did not mention this incident. Mark said that Jesus called his disciples (καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τοὺς μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ). He told them with a solemn pronouncement (εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν) that this poor widow had put in more money than all those rich people who were contributing to the treasury (ὅτι ἡ χήρα αὕτη ἡ πτωχὴ πλεῖον πάντων ἔβαλεν τῶν βαλλόντων εἰς τὸ γαζοφυλάκιον). In plain numerical terms, that was not correct, but proportionally it was true. She had given the smallest amount of Greek or Roman money as possible. There was nothing smaller than her contribution of 2 copper coins. However, she had so little to begin with, so that this was a large contribution for her.

Only Luke, chapter 21:2, has something similar, while Matthew did not mention this incident. Mark indicated that Jesus said that one poor widow came to the treasury (καὶ ἐλθοῦσα μία χήρα πτωχὴ). She put in two small copper coins (ἔβαλεν λεπτὰ δύο). A λεπτὰ “lepton” copper coin was the smallest Greek coin and often called a “mite”. 2 of these “lepton” copper coins was worth a penny or a κοδράντης (ὅ ἐστιν κοδράντης). This κοδράντης “quadrans” was the smallest Roman copper coin. This was a very small amount of money that this poor widow put into the Temple treasury.